Monday, December 23, 2013

Running out of time to complete that intricate sweater, afghan, excetera. Problem solved. Grab your novelty yarn, size 9mm needles and whip up this lovely garter stitched scarf in a few hours.

I used two 50 gram balls of Filatura Di Crosa Fancy "Ricciolo". Each contains 66 yards. With 9mm needles cast on 20 stitches and knit in garter (knit both sides) until there is just enough yarn to cast off.

Sunday, December 8, 2013

Thérèse Knit with 'Wendy happy' a four ply sock yarn that is 75% bamboo and 25% nylon. So soft. The colour is called Scorpio which is a wonderful fit for the two year old Montréal grand son who's birthday is in November. How perfect is that .

Good job Thérèse.Our little knitting group will meet after the holidays.Hoping Deina is feeling better and thank you Doris for the special little something for my Mum.Cinna

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Yesterday I crocheted up this cowl. I used a 6.5mm hook, apx 50gm pale yellow,65-70 gms each of pale and medium green Tahki Yarns Torino and apx 150gm ivory Bernat Roving. Torino is a lovely soft bulky merino. I used the roving every other row. Chain(ch) 51sts with colour of choice (A)and join in a circle. I used medium green. Ch 1, single crochet (sc) in same space and then in every st around, join with sl st at top of ch1. Next ch3 counts as first double crochet(dc),2 dc in same space, *skip next stitch(st),3 dc in next st * repeat to ch3, join with slip stitch (sl st) in top of chain 3. Break yarn. Start next colour (ivory) in between any 2 double crochet groups and repeat as above. Continue in this manner until the cowl is desired length and sc around after last dc round. I made a sc cord by using 3 of the yarns held together and chaining to a length I felt was long enough to weave through the dc stitches in the 2nd round from top. I made 2 multicolored pom poms and attached to each end of cord. That is all. Hugs Cinna

I have been remiss in updating. Here is a Bernat cardigan I completed October 24th. This is Reindeer Games from Bernat's ebook. I made size medium so I could wear a pullover under it. I probably could've made a size small. The pattern is made using Bernat roving and it works up very quickly. It is also very warm and soft. I shortened the sleeve cuff from 5.5 inches to 4 inches. Cinna

Monday, October 28, 2013

This weekend's spinning retreat was great fun and well run. I had a great time and it was good seeing people I have seen for five retreats and making new friends was wonderful. Thanks to all who made this event so memorable.

I was delighted to win first place for my fun hat. I spun a two ply, crocheted a basic half double crochet hat and embellished it with many crocheted corkscrews,

The hat contest of spin and make in a day was challenging. Congrats to all who participated.

My sister Deb and I wearing our miniature felted hats at our vending area of aprons.

This is the fleece I bought st the spinning retreat on the weekend. It is from The Last Resort Farm and is from their Icelandic sheep, Lied. It is lovely light grays to black. I am just going to clean it now. Hugs Cinna

Monday, September 23, 2013

I am busy getting for spinning retreat in October. I have lots on the go. I am finishing aprons that my sister and I will be selling. I have a few hats on the go as the theme this year is the Mad Hatter. I have tinked back the button band on my Lopi cardigan thinking I would prefer a 2X2 ribbing and have decided after knitting that for 6 inches that O in fact would like a zipper instead and will now have to tink back and restart the band in a plain 6 stitch to accommodate a rollover for the zipper. I am knitting Bernat's "Reindeer Games" cardigan. I purchased the yarn at Michael's at a dollar a ball so the cardigan is only costing me about $11. Fantastic!

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

This Labor Day Weekend was busy. Saturday I spent a few hours at London Wul picking out some roving to dye. I am quite timid about the entire acid dyeing process. I had an image in my mind about the end product for a project I am going to make for the retreat next month. I checked out many sites on the internet and decided to use food coloring and my microwave. I love the outcome. I call it Plum Crazy and I look forward to knitting it up.
Sunday was spent cutting out aprons, as was Monday morning. Monday afternoon I spun up my Plum Crazy and some navy merino-silk roving.
We are meeting at Reads tonight at 6pm.
Hugs Cinna

Thursday, August 22, 2013

I have been a little obsessed as of late with gradients. I am presently knitting a Spunky Eclectic triangular shawl that came with some fibre I purchased from, you guessed it, Spunky Eclectic. It is a progressive handpaint on Romney called "More Coffee" and the shawl pattern "Moth Eaten Shawl"was free with the purchase (I ordered in March and the free pattern was for a limited time only). It wet my appetite for similar but on a larger scale. Say for a circular shawl.I am relatively new to dyeing fibre and I felt I would need to dye about 8 ounces of wool or about 5 to 6 ounces of lace weight. Egad! I finally found a site that sells beautiful gradient yarn and they even sell kits. So today I hunkered down and decided between their numerous colourways. Oh the site is The Unique Sheep the kit is Evenstar which is done in Eos a wool and silk blend. The colorway is a gradient named Viola. It is spectacular and I can hardly wait for it to arrive. Finally another little obsession taken care of.Tee-hee!

A bit of sad news.Our beloved Kiki is MIA. While I was at work on Monday the sun room door blew open and she bolted. We caught a brief glimpse of her Monday evening but have not seen her since. We have combed the area and asked around but she is simply gone. :(

Friday, August 16, 2013

It was a busy week. I worked 3 evening shifts with 2 of those shifts having hours of overtime. Yesterday I went up to my mother's. DH did some jobs she had been waiting all summer to have done. After which we had a lovely supper and came home. This morning I managed to put some order back in the house, get laundry done and we went for a short buggy ride. This afternoon I updated my You Tube videos that show how to cast on a toe up sock using Judy's Magic Cast On, Magic Loop and 2 colours for a vertical striped sock. It has been a real challenge making those videos. I started last week and used my laptops web camera. The quality was less then stellar. DH then used his camera and video taped it but we couldn't get the accompanying audio file to upload. Grrr! Finally we used my iPod Touch and downloaded You Tube's Capture app. Yeah! Success at last. You can watch the new videos at Cast On and the second one is Increases . I hope you enjoy them.

There are some lovely patterns available for socks that have vertical stripe toes on Drops Designs. I am currently working on a pair using Magic Loop, 2 socks at the same time on 1 circular needle. Basically I went up some needle sizes to a 2.75mm needle.Why! I did this because carrying the yarn can make your sock a little tighter so going up in needle size seems to counter act that effect. Then I just used Judy's Magic Cast on and used the 2 colours as demonstated in my videos. I am using a plain sock pattern. It is the one in my head that I use all the time and have been teaching it for several years now at Cricket Cove in Moncton. I will do a short row heel to preserve the colour sequence and then just knit around until I feel like binding off.

There is so much you can do with this coloured cast on. You stripe the toes only, stripe toes and heels and I know you can cast on rainbow vertically striped socks by using 4 or more colours! DH pointed out that then you would be working with multiple balls of yarn. I say Pah-shaa to that. Just do it. Imagine making an 8 coloured rainbow vertically striped pair of socks. Just cast on 8 colours on each needle and knit 1 round plain then start your increases making certain to follow your colour sequence, too easy.

Sunday, August 11, 2013

For the last few years I have been unable to figure out a way to cast on vertically striped socks or mittens from the toe/tip up using magic loop . Well yesterday morning as I was sipping my morning coffee on the sundeck it came to me. I must confess I have been a little obsessed ever since.

You may ask,"Why is this so important to you?"

I suppose it's the challenge of teaching myself a new knitting technique.I worked at it for a bit. As knitters will and was astounded at how frigging easy this is and dumbfounded as to why I wasn't able to do it before. I promptly emailed Judy Becker the originator of Judy's Magic Cast On to seek her permission to upload a few videos to You Tube. I was delighted with her yes reply.

Unfortunately my cameraman is working today and, me being me, I made 3 videos using my built in web cam so the quality is not great. I'll redo when my cameraman is available. I just really wanted to share.

So if you are interessted you can Google "Cinnaknits" or try this link

I started this yesterday and finished today. The band is just rows of 6 double crochets out of handicrafter navy using a 3.5 mm hook with a single crochet around. The cloche pattern is " Cotton Crochet Cloche" by Sarah Beckman. I used Lion Brands Martha Stewart's cotton hemp. I switched to an H/5 mm hook on round 15 and only completed round 27 before slip stitching off. I made the hat to wear while driving around in our new Dune Buggy
Hugs
Cinna

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Started this pattern from Love of Knitting Best Summer Knits, Sea in the sun cover up by Kim Stuffs on July 3rd and completed July 15th. This is an easy to knit, top down,raglan in tunic length. It features a single large button hole, cap sleeves, hip shaping and a lace bottom. I used a lovely dove gray cotton-acrylic blend yarn from my stash. I used 400 grams and made the lace bottom 3 inches instead if 5 which allowed me to make 2 pockets. I crocheted around the buttonhole to make it smaller and around the to front edges. Hugs Cinna

I was attending a retirement party on June 26th and had purchased a lovely sundress to wear and wanted a shrug to cover my shoulders and back as the dress is halter style. I found a pattern on Ravelry called the Sonata shawl by Melissa Mall . I used a 125gm skein of Fleece Artist I think is Nyoni. I had purchased it at the Spinning retreat on PEI about 3 years ago in a bargain bin. It was the perfect weight and color for the shrug. This is a very easy pattern. I started the evening of June 22nd and completed it (including blocking an drying) June 23rd.

Unfortunately it was so cold that evening that I ended up wearing a different outfit.

I also completed my Mamy Bag by Cecile Franconie this pattern is in French but is very easy to translate. I used a variety of cottons. Most were Bernat Handicrafters and some Lion Brand Martha Stewart Cotton Hemp blend. It took me from June 18th until last evening July 3rd to complete. There are 43 hexagons. I made the handles by staining 2X18 inch dowels and 4 flower pot ends in Min Wax Gunstock. The actual handles I removed from a purse I never use. I completed thge hexagons, laid them out and attached the final arrangement with split rings, crocheted together using red and single crochet. I made a liner the handles and put it all together for a spectacular tote.

I am back to knitting but am still working on a few crochet projects. I did a swatch for a project in Love of Knitting Best Summer Knits with 28 Inspring Projects, Sea in the Sun Cover Up by Kim Driggs. I will be wearing it as a summer cardigan. It is a top down long raglan done in cotton. Yumm!

Monday, June 24, 2013

I have absolutely gone Granny square crazy. I am busily crocheted a rainbow bright afghan for a family members birthday this fall. I am using Bernat Mosaic a 5mm hook and a traditional granny square. Using the mosaic yarn gives a few benefits 1) there is no need to join colors as the yarn is variegated and changes occur naturally,2) because it is acrylic the finished project is machine washable. It is easy enough to find a traditional granny square pattern by searching on line. the square I am using has 7 rounds in the mosaic and an eighth round in the background or joining yarn. I like the look of this afghan so much I purchased 14 balls of Noro Kureyon from London Wul in a variety of colorways. This particular afghan I call Rainbow Bright. It is as wide as the top of my queen size bed and as long.

To make up you will need 9 balls Bernat Mosaic. I used 5 balls of Psychedelic, 3 balls of Optimistic and 1 ball of Calypso. To join I used just over 1 large ball of Loops and Threads Immpecable Rouge. I really feel it is more a paprika-pink color. A 5mm crochet hook and a traditional granny square block pattern. I used Donna Higgins found on Ravelry. I did 7 rounds in the Mosaic, cut yarn and join Immpecable and crochet 1 round, for a 9 inch block. Make 35 blocks and join using Carina's joining technique .

Rainbow Bright afghan
﻿

There you have it. A perky little afghan to brighten yours or someone elses' life.
Hugs
Cinna

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

Is this not a lovely cardigan? It was made and modelled by it's owner and maker, Therese. She knits every week at Reads. The pattern is Bergere de France pattern Kimono sweater and the yarn is Tourbillon. Lovely. This week I am working evenings so we are meeting Thursday evening. This morning I am blocking my friend Shelley's Alberni Valley shawl. See you Thursday. Cinna

Monday, May 20, 2013

Thanks Deina for the phone call. I have been obsessed with knotty a Lopi sweater this holiday weekend. I want to get it completed before the really hot weather comes. That is why I haven't updated my blog. We will be meeting at Reads on Tuesday, the 21st at 6 p.m. Cinna Back to the sweater

Sunday, May 12, 2013

Well here is the story. In 2008 I decided to knit a ripple afghan. So I found a free pattern bought the required yarn and needle, worked on it for about a month and then put it away until last Friday!! That's right folks about 5 years. I dug it out last week and worked on it sporadically through the week and completed it this morning. The pattern was free from Bernat, Worsted-Pink Blanket. After 5 years it's off my needles.

Continuing the story. The afghan may have been hibernating for 5 years not so the pattern. While searching for it on line I came across a picture of a lovely crochet afghan pattern for sale. I knew that I had the pattern and suddenly I had to find it and make it. Just an FYI here this particular pattern was a courtesy or free pattern with a subscrbed magazine from 1985. Five years ha, try 28 years! Well after much searching of my hobby room I found it!! I wouldn't call myself a pack rat but a pattern from 28 years ago.

Now this is a crochet afghan that requires 80 ounces of worsted weight yarn. I am using ivory 2 ply 20oz purchased at a yard sale, 8oz each of Cascade Eco yellow color#8457, Cascade 220 color#9478 pink instead of coral, Briggs and Little Regal Fundy Fog color#60 lavender,40z each of Briggs and Little Regal KnitEast NB Green as green, Briggs and Little Softspun Honeydew color#15 as light green, Cascade 220 color#9456 as blue, 16oz each of Briggs and Little Softspun Wedgewood color#40 as light blue and Briggs and Little Softspun Flamingo as peach.

Pretty Pastel Afghan blocks

Yarn for Pretty Pastel Afghan

I started a Lopi sweater at the end of March and set it aside in April to make baby items and because I had to order a few more balls of yarn in the main color. They arrived on Thursday and so the sleeves for the sweater are happily back on my needles.

We are meeting tomorrow night at Reads, Riverview. See you there.
Cinna

Sunday, May 5, 2013

My friend Nicole is having her very 1st baby. This week was her baby shower so I made her a few items. Nicole enjoys those photo opportunity hats . You know like in the Anne Geddes photos. I made her a hat out of my thick and thin handspun wool from the pattern Uptown Babe designed by Rae Lynn Chase.

I also knit her Elizabeth Zimmermann's Baby Jacket Surprise. I have the pattern in her book Knitting Workshop. I made it to fit an older baby and used Snuggly Wuggly 100% acrylic Baby Sport weight yarn in Pixie Prints. I used Lorilee Beltman's You Tube tutorial.

I made this cute hat also for an older baby using the same yarn. The pattern is Pixie Hat by Diana Chan Taylor and is very easy to knit up and so cute.

Below is a lovely open on the side cardigan for a newborn. The pattern is Eucalyptus by Helen Rose. I made it in Berroco Pure Pima. A dk weight cotton yarn that is so soft. I changed the cuff by crocheting the edge and I also crocheted an edge on the bottom of the cardigan.

Nicole liked a particular pair of booties she saw on Pinterest. I combined to patterns together to achieve a similar pair. The actual bootie pattern I used was Magic Slippers by Caroline Hegwer and the Crocodile stitch cuff is from Laura Tegg's crochet pattern Crocodile Stitch Baby Booties . Both patterns are quite lovely. I used a tiny bit of sock yarn and made them in a pink colorway. Nicole didn't want to know the sex of her baby but I really wanted to make something in pink.